Electro-therapeutic device



Jan. 4, 1938. T. J. CURTIS ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1936 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to an electrotherapeutic device and has for its principal object, to provide a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive device that is complete within itself and which may be easily manipulated for generating a mild electric current, Faradic in nature, and which, according to recognized inedical authorities, is highly beneficial in the treatment of many bodily ailments.

Further objects of. my invention are, to provide an electrotherapy device of the character referred to, that is small and compact, so that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket and further, to equip the device with simple and eificient means whereby the user of the device may accurately control the strength of the current produced by the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken lengthwise through the center of my improved electrotherapeutic device. I

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the electrode applicator that is used with the device in the treatment of rectal and prostatic ailments.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of an electrode applicator that may be used with the device.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, designates a metal tube 40 that forms a part of the body of the device and one end of said tube is closed by a readily removable cap H, to the inner face of which is secured one end of a spring finger l2.

Positioned within the tube l0 adjacent cap ll 5 are one or more conventional dry battery cells C, of the type generally used in hand flash lights and the metal end of this cell is engaged by spring finger l2.

Secured to the opposite end of tube I0 is one end of a short tubular member l3, of insulating material such as hard rubber and the opposite end of this member I3 is secured to a short tubular metal cap l4.

Body I0 and cap l4 are provided with apertures l5 for the reception of plug that are mounted on the ends of conductors l1 and the latter being connected to suitable electrodes.

Secured within the end of tubular member l3 that is positioned in cap i4 is a disc l8 of insulating material and seated in the center thereof and extending axially through member l3 and into tubular body H1 is a metal rod l9.

The end of this rod within body member l0 makes contact with the post P that projects from the adjacent end of battery C.

Mounted on the central portion of rod I9 is a collar 29 of insulating material and carried by rod l9 and positioned between said collar and the disk I8 is a sleeve 2| of insulating material.

Wound on sleeve 2| is a wire that forms a primary coil 22 and one end of this coil is connected to a metal arm 23 that is mounted on disk l8 on the opposite side from coil 22, and said arm 23 carrying a contact 24.

Mounted on disc I8 is a substantially V-shaped spring 25, the free end of which carries an armature 26 that is positioned adjacent the end of rod l9 and the free arm of this spring carries a contact 21 that is adapted to engage contact 24.

The parts 23, 24, 25, 26 and 21 constitute a 2 conventional vibrator that is effective in producing a pulsating current.

Mounted on the end of rod l9 that contacts the battery is a disc 28 of insulating material that is positioned within tube In and provides a support for the end of rod 19 and mounted on said rod adjacent said disc is a collar 29 of insulating material.

Mounted on the collars and 29 and surrounding but spaced apart from rod i9 is a metal tube 30, one end of. which is connected to the adjacent end of coil 22 by a conductor 3|.

Arranged for sliding movement within tubular member l3 and the adjacent portion of tube In is a spool formed of insulating material and which comprises a tubular member 32, a disc 33 that slides within tubular member l3 and a disc 34 that slides within tubular body l0.

Formed in the wall of body I0 is a longitudinally disposed slot 35 and passing therethrough is a button 36 that is seated in the edge of disc 34, thus providing means for moving the spool lengthwise within the device.

Secured to the outer face of disc 34 is a spring 31, the inner end of which rides on the outer faces of. collar 29 and tube and the outer end of said spring engages and rides against the inner face of tube l0.

Wound on tube 32 is a wire that forms a secondary coil 38 and one end thereof is connected to spring 37 and the other end being connected to a contact finger 39 that is carried by disc 33.

Carried by the edge of disc I8 is a longitudinally disposed contact spring 40, one end of which projects through a notch 4| that is formed in the edge of disc 33 just above finger-39 and the opposite end of said spring 40 makes contact with the inner face of cap l4.

In Fig. 4 is shown an applicator particularly intended for insertion into the rectum for the treatment of hemorrhoids, prostatic ailments and the like and said applicator comprises a metal rod 42 one end of which terminates in an elongated tapered head 43 and the opposite end having a socket 44 for the reception of a plug 45 that is connected to one end of an electric conductor and said socket being provided with a set screw to secure .the plug to said socket.

A sleeve 46 of insulation covers the rod 42 between the head 43 and socket 44.

In the modified form of electrode applicator illustrated in Fig. 5, 46a designates a metal disc that is carried by a short stem 48, and the latter having a handle 41 of suitable insulating material. A plug 49 is detachably connected to stem 48 and said plug being connected to a conductor which is the same as one of the conductors l1 illustrated in Fig. 1.

The operation of my improved electrotherapeutic device is as follows:

Under normal conditions or while not in use, the spool carrying the secondary coil 38 is at its rearward limit of movement, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and when so positioned, the lower end of contact spring 37 engages the collar 29 of insulation, and contact spring 39 is out of engagement with arm 40 and thus there is no current flowing from the battery.

The device may be manually engaged with one hand gripping the tube l0 and the other hand gripping the cap l4, or one hand may be applied to the tube Ii! and the cap I4 is placed in direct contact with that portion of the body or limb that is to be treated. The thumb of the hand that grips the tube it engages button 36, and by applying pressure thereto, the spool is moved slowly lengthwise through the center of the tube and immediately after such movement has begun, the inner end of contact spring 3'! will engage with metal tube 33 and simultaneously, contact fingers 39 will enga e the adjacent end of arm 40. As these contacts take place, current from the battery passes through rod l3, thence through the vibrator located on the outer face of disc l8, thence to primary coil 20 which is connected to tube 38 by conductor 3|. From tube 30, the current passes through contact spring 31 to tube 10, that is held in the hand, and the induced current set up in secondary coil 38 passes from contact 38 through arm 48 to cap I 4, thus keeping the circuit.

As the spool is moved forward or toward the primary coil 22, the strength of the current is gradually increased, which action is brought about by the position of the secondary coil 38 with respect to primary coil 22, and thus the person holding the device may readily control the strength of the current used in the treatment.

It will be understood that when the device is held in the hands or in one hand with the cap I 4 in contact with the body, the plugs I6 are withdrawn from the tube I0 and cap l4, and in the event that it is desired to use one or two electrode applicators for treatment, the conductor connected to the applicator is connected to either the tube ID or cap [4 by inserting the plug IS in one of the apertures l5.

By placing an electrode connected to the device in a basin or container filled or partially filled with water, the latter may be electrified by the flow of current therethrough, and used for the treatment of various ailments.

It will be understood that I have provided an electrotherapeutic device that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very efiective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved electrotherapeutic device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrotherapeutic device, a hollow body comprising a pair of spaced metal shells, a battery cell removably positioned in one of said shells, a metal rod axially disposed within said body, one end of which rod contacts with the post of said battery, a primary coil carried by said rod, a vibrator arranged between said primary coil and said rod, a secondary coil arranged to move lengthwise of said primary coil, means movable with said secondary coil for establishing connection between said primary coil and one of the metal shells of the body and means movable with said secondary coil for establishing connection between said secondary coil and the other shell of the body.

2. In an electrotherapeutic device, a hollow body comprising a pair of spaced metal shells, a battery cell removably positioned in one of said shells, a metal rod axially disposed within said body, one end of which rod contacts with the post of said battery, a primary coil carried by said rod, a vibrator arranged between said primary coil and said rod, a secondary coil arranged to move lengthwise of said primary coil, means movable with said secondary coil for establishing connection between said primary coil and one of the metal shells of the body, means movable with said secondary coil for establishing connection between said secondary coiland the other shell of the body, and an electrode applicator connected to one of said shells.

THOMAS J. CURTIS. 

